Comments on: Hot Springs: Spiritual Oasis Or New-Age Pick Up Spot? http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:20:04 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christine Garvin http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/comment-page-1/#comment-90062 Christine Garvin Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:53:42 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=805#comment-90062 JB-Don't think they call it hearsay when I've been sitting right there when my friend was harassed. But who knows, maybe they do? And by the way, my male friend who was harassed there was done so by a resident, and when he reported him, he was told it had happened before with this particular resident. I know that the staff strives to keep these things from happening, that there are signs posted everywhere that this type of behavior is not tolerated, but the reality is it does still happen. I still very much enjoy Harbin, have great respect for their establishment, and personally do not think of it as a seedy place. But I also respect the people that have had problems there and do not feel as if it is a safe space for them. JB-Don’t think they call it hearsay when I’ve been sitting right there when my friend was harassed. But who knows, maybe they do?

And by the way, my male friend who was harassed there was done so by a resident, and when he reported him, he was told it had happened before with this particular resident.

I know that the staff strives to keep these things from happening, that there are signs posted everywhere that this type of behavior is not tolerated, but the reality is it does still happen.

I still very much enjoy Harbin, have great respect for their establishment, and personally do not think of it as a seedy place. But I also respect the people that have had problems there and do not feel as if it is a safe space for them.

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]]> By: jb http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/comment-page-1/#comment-90056 jb Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:17:54 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=805#comment-90056 You have never been harassed but know other who have.... I think they call that hearsay! Give Harbin it's due a great place to relax where harassment is NOT tolerated and those found doing such are asked to leave. I think your odds of being harassed at the local bar are far greater than at Harbin You have never been harassed but know other who have…. I think they call that hearsay! Give Harbin it’s due a great place to relax where harassment is NOT tolerated and those found doing such are asked to leave. I think your odds of being harassed at the local bar are far greater than at Harbin

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]]> By: Traveling Wedding Photographer, Amanda http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/comment-page-1/#comment-89291 Traveling Wedding Photographer, Amanda Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:36:08 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=805#comment-89291 I'm going to make sure to visit Harbin this year! I've heard a ton about it and I'm near there all the time. I hope it's not seedy ......... I'll report back after I go. ~Amanda I’m going to make sure to visit Harbin this year! I’ve heard a ton about it and I’m near there all the time. I hope it’s not seedy ………

I’ll report back after I go. ~Amanda

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/comment-page-1/#comment-89199 Tim Patterson Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:41:11 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=805#comment-89199 Not sure about hot-springs in the states, but I LOVE the mountain hotsprings of Hokkaido, Japan - especially Nakadake Onsen - and have never been hit on by the elderly Japanese men I tend to meet in the pools. Not sure about hot-springs in the states, but I LOVE the mountain hotsprings of Hokkaido, Japan – especially Nakadake Onsen – and have never been hit on by the elderly Japanese men I tend to meet in the pools.

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]]> By: Kira http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/comment-page-1/#comment-89188 Kira Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:49:26 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=805#comment-89188 I just got back from Boise, Idaho, where I went to a public park hot springs (Kirkham) with naturally hot waterfalls filling the shallow pools and to get there we just walked through snow. The river running right by these pools was icy cold and there was a family of elk staring at us humans just 6 feet away. I was able to go into myself and there were people just enjoying the water, themselves, and friendship and that's the best part of being in such a natural outdoors hotspring. I would love to have this experience more often. I've been visiting Harbin since I was an 11 year old girl (32 years ago!) and in all the times I've been to Harbin (more times than I can count, including doing workshops) I have never felt creeped out by anyone there. I go there thinking of relaxation, friendship or love and get only good experiences up there. I love Harbin. I also lived 6 years in Japan where single-sex bathing is completely normal and again, it's about health, friendship and relaxation. I'd like everyone to have their own experience the way they want to be treated and go to hotsprings in a way that furthers their healthy enjoyment, relaxation, and spiritual fulfillment. I just got back from Boise, Idaho, where I went to a public park hot springs (Kirkham) with naturally hot waterfalls filling the shallow pools and to get there we just walked through snow. The river running right by these pools was icy cold and there was a family of elk staring at us humans just 6 feet away. I was able to go into myself and there were people just enjoying the water, themselves, and friendship and that’s the best part of being in such a natural outdoors hotspring. I would love to have this experience more often.

I’ve been visiting Harbin since I was an 11 year old girl (32 years ago!) and in all the times I’ve been to Harbin (more times than I can count, including doing workshops) I have never felt creeped out by anyone there. I go there thinking of relaxation, friendship or love and get only good experiences up there. I love Harbin.

I also lived 6 years in Japan where single-sex bathing is completely normal and again, it’s about health, friendship and relaxation.

I’d like everyone to have their own experience the way they want to be treated and go to hotsprings in a way that furthers their healthy enjoyment, relaxation, and spiritual fulfillment.

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]]> By: Turner Wright http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/04/07/hot-springs-spiritual-oasis-or-new-age-pick-up-spot/comment-page-1/#comment-89185 Turner Wright Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:07:39 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=805#comment-89185 Eh, I think they still hold the standard on spiritual oasis. I won't deny guys may come looking for something else in the back of their minds, but I hope that's never the primary reason. Mixed bathing baths in Japan are generally only filled with men. Hot springs ryokan (lodging), on the other hand, are usually a place for couples to spend the weekend together getting all hot and sweaty, not a singles pickup. Eh, I think they still hold the standard on spiritual oasis. I won’t deny guys may come looking for something else in the back of their minds, but I hope that’s never the primary reason. Mixed bathing baths in Japan are generally only filled with men. Hot springs ryokan (lodging), on the other hand, are usually a place for couples to spend the weekend together getting all hot and sweaty, not a singles pickup.

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